By John Fuller

Last updated at 10:49, Saturday, 27 February 2010

Workington Reds have teamed up with local junior side Curwen Park Rangers to help boost young talent coming through the ranks.

The newly formed academy will allow the Borough Park club to get first choice on the talented youngsters coming through the Rangers youth sides.

Curwen Park run three junior sides in the West Cumbria Youth League running from under 12s to under 16s.

A development officer is likely to be appointed soon as Reds start to build up their youth setup.

Paul McCracken, founding member of Curwen Park, said the link will give youngsters that show promise a pathway through to senior level football.

The move will mean that Curwen’s talented youngsters will not be sent through to Carlisle United for trials, with Reds having first refusal.

Members of Curwen Park will be at Reds’ game with Redditch this afternoon to shake on the deal.

Reds have also held more talks with consultants over the proposal to build a new £1.25million stand at their Borough Park ground.

Chairman Humphrey Dobie met consultant Susan O’Brien at the team hotel in Bedford last weekend before the heartbreaking defeat to Stevenage in the FA Trophy.

O'Brien is said to be very supportive of the plans and promised to secure the funding needed for Reds to build the new two-tiered stand in place of the Main Stand.

Reds need to secure £100,000 themselves by 2013 and schemes have already been put in place to make sure they have the cash needed for work to begin.

One new initiative that commercial manager Les Smallwood is developing is setting up an account for fans to pay £10 a month over the next three years.

Smallwood said the plans would give people away from West Cumbria the chance to support their side.

Fans have so far jumped at the chance to be part of the new scheme with more than £700 a month going into the REDS 200 pot.

A sportsman’s dinner has also been penned in for April with former Liverpool legend Jan Molby, who played against a Reds XI last summer to raise cash for Cumbrian charities, taking to the stage.

Molby, who is a well respected after dinner speaker, will entertain the fans. More than 200 tickets for the event.

This afternoon, Reds are looking to get back to winning ways after three defeats in a row.

Edmo’s Army ran Stevenage close but fell to a 94th minute winner last time out. Reds will be at full strength with every member of the squad now fit and raring to go.

One of the fund-raisers on the immediate horizon is the Sportsman’s Dinner in April when the guest speaker will

First published at 09:03, Saturday, 27 February 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk